Device for manipulating railroad-rails.



E. w. VOGEL. DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING RAILROAD RAILS. APPLICATION HLED APR.6, 1914.

' 1,223,452. I Patented Apr. 24,1917.

2 sums-sum 1.

R k A TQRNEK S,

E. W. VOGEL.

DEVICE FOR MAMPULATING RAILROAD RAILS.

v APPLICATION FILED APR.6'.19|4.

1,223,452. V Patented Ap1.24,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- iSSES: I gm 2 ,2

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE W. VOGEL, OEOAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR T0 CHICAGO RAILWAY SIGNAL AND s'UrrLY COMPANY, or ILLINOIS.

CARPENTERSVILLE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DEVICE non MANIPULATING RAILROAD-RAILS.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. .VOGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook-and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements in Devices for'Manipulating Railroad-Rails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manipulation of railroad rails, and h'as for its object to, provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient device for separating and bringing together railroadrails, for example, for the purpose of replacing the insulation of an insulated rail joint, whereby this operation -may be more quickly, performed than with the means and methods heretofore used. It has beenthe customary practice, when separating the adjacent ends of two insulated rails forthe purpose of replacing the insulation, to remove the bolts between the angle bars and one of the rails, pull the spikes which hold the other rail to the ties, ishim up-the end of this rail, and force it away from the adjacent rail by battering or ramming'the projectingipart of its end with some heavy object, for example, a piece'of rail; or a chisel may be driven between the rails without shimming up either of them, In some cases the angle bar is left attached to one rail and rammed or hammered in the same manner. This operation besides being slow and requiring several laborers for its performance, is certain to injure and disfigure the ends of the rails or the angle irons, as, the case may be,ibesides putting a severe strain on the angle bar boltsif the last named method is followed. The end of a rail mutilated in this way soon becomes hollowed out in the passage of the'wheels over it and has to be sawed off in order that it should not be the cause of accidents by the shocks given to the car wheels. My invention provides a simple, readily portable and inexpensive piece of apparatus whereby the operations. of separatlng therails and thereafter bringing them together again maybe accomplished much more quickly than according to the'old methods and at the same time without any injury touthe rail or the angle bar, and with a very vconsiderable economy in labor,

The invention is illustrated, in certain Specification of Letters Patent.

conveniently and economically Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Application filed April 6, 1914. Serial No. 830,089.

Fig. 2, a view, in perspective, of whatmay be termed themovable jaw forming part of one of the rail clamping elements in the embodiment of theinvention shown in the precedingfigure; I

Fig 3, aside elevation. of the device, one of theirail clamping elements being shown in section;

Fig. 4, asectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the device is made up of a pair of rail clamping elements, adapted to separately engage the ends of two adjacent rails, the engagement, in this form of device, being, in each case, with the ball of the rail, and means for causing elements to' be drawn toward or forced away from the other. The rail clamping elements vconsist preferably, in each case, although other suitableclamping means might be employed, of ajaw or clamping member 10, a I

one of said rail clamping surface 14 which'bears against the inclined under face of the rail A and with a surface 15' which'bears against the side of the ball. The member 10 is provided with an undercut grooveor slideway 16 for the jaw member 11 which may be formed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, by securing a pair of angle bars 17 to opposite sides of the member 10 by means of screws 18 or other suitable attaching means. The jaw member 11' is formed with tongues 19 which fit, by preference, some what loosely in the guideway 16. The head 13 of the spindle 12 is rounded-at its outer end with a spherical curvature and seats in a socket 18 formed on the jaw member 10, the head 13 and socket 18 constituting a ball and socket joint which takes the thrust of spindle l2.and at the same time allows the i (Fig. 3) is spindle a slight rocking movement. This is to accommodate the device for rails of different sizes and contours. Vith this purpose in view, the faces 20, 21 on the portion of the jaw member 11 bearing against the rail, stand at an angle to each other a little greater than the angle between the side face and top of the ball of 'the ordinary T rail. The head 13 is formed with openings 22 for a rod or lever or is otherwise suitably formed to provide for the turning of the spindle.

The jaw members 10, 10 of the two rail clamping elements are connected by a spindle 23, the opposite ends of which 24, 25 are formed one with a right thread and the other with a left thread which extend into correspondingly threaded openings 26, 27 in the members 10. The center portion of the spindle 23 is formed with holes 28 for an operating lever.

Operation: Assuming that the device is used for separating a pair of insulated rails for the purpose of'replacing the insulation (although the invention is not confined to the use of the device for'this particular operation) when the insulation has become worn or injured so as to require replacement, the angle bar connecting the rail A with rail B removed and the spikes fastenboth of the rails to the ties are pulled enough to allow the rail or rails to move. If the spindle 23 be long enough for the device to span the angle bar the latter need not be removed unless necessary for inserting the insulation. The device is applied to the rails, one clamping element being clamped to one rail and the other clamping element to the adjacent rail. The capacity which the clamping member ing one or 11 has forrocking slightly with the ball and socket joint 11, 18 as a fulcrum, enables the device to be used on rails of different size and contour. The rails are separated by turning the spindle 23 in one direction by means of a suitable lever. After the old insulation has been removed and the new piece put in place, the rails may be drawn together again by revolving the spindle 23 in the opposite direction.

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, modifications in the form, construction and arrangement of parts might be devised without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the particular constructions, arrangements and devices shown and described except so far as certain of the claims herein are, by their terms, so limited.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rail engaging element comprising jaws one of which is slidable on the other with a loose engagement giving it capacity for self adjustment for rails of different size and contour, of a second rail engaging element, and means for causing one of said elements to be drawn toward or forced from the other.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rail engaging element comprising a jaw formed with a guide slot, a jaw formed with a tongue slidable loosely in said slot, a spindle having a threaded engagement with the last named jaw, and a ball and socket joint between said spindle and the first named jaw; of a second rail engaging element, and means for causing one of said elements to be drawn toward or forced from the other.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rail engaging element comprising a jaw adapted to engage the under surface of the ball of a rail and formed with a guide slot, a jaw adapted to engage the diagonally opposite edge of the ball of said rail and slidable loosely in said guide slot, a spindle having a threaded engagement with said last named jaw, and a ball and socket joint interposed between the other end of the spindle and the first named jaw; of a second rail engaging element, and means for causing one of said elements to be drawn toward or forced from the other.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of rail clamping elements comprising, in each case, a pair of jaws, one of which is slidably mounted on the other with capacity for rocking movement; of means for causing one of said elements to be drawn toward or forced from the other.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of rail clamping elements comprising, in each case, a jaw adapted to engage the under surface of the ball of a rail, and a jaw slidable thereon with capacity for rocking movement which is adapted to engage the diagonally opposite edge of the ball of said rail; of means for causing one of said elements to be drawn toward or forced from the other.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of jaw members formed with openings having respectively right and left threads, a spindle extending into said openings, the ends of which are correspondingly threaded, said jaws being formed with guide slots, a jaw slidable in the guide slots of each of the first named jaws, a spindle for each of said last named jaws having a threaded engagement therewith and formed with a head, the extremity of which is rounded, and sockets formed on said first named jaw members in which the heads of said first named spindles seat.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of rail clamping elements comprising, in each case, a pair of jaws adapted to grip the ball of a T rail transversely and diagonally thereof, a screw for eifecting the movement of one jaw with respect to the other, "and a ball and socket connection between said screw and one of said jaws, and means for producing a relative movement between said elements.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of rail clamping elements comprising, in each case, a pair of jaws adapted to grip the ball of a T rail transversely and diagonally thereof, a screw for effecting the movement of one jaw with respect to the other and a ball and socket connection between said screw and one of and a threaded spindle engaging said jaws, said elements for the purpose of producing relative movement between the same.

9. In a device of the character described,-

the combination ofa pair of rail clamping elements each comprising a jaw'adapted to engage the ball of arail and formed with a guide slot, a jaw adapted to engage the opposite side of the ball of said rail and slid able loosely in said guide slot, a spindle having a threaded engagement with said last named jaw, and a ball and socket joint interposed between the spindle and the first named jaw; and a threaded spindle interposedbetween and engaging said rail clampingelements. I

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of rail clamping elements each comprising an angular jaw adapted to engage the ball of a rail and formed with a guide slot, an angular jaw adapted to engage'the diagonally opposite edge of the ball of said rail and slidable loosely in said guide slot, a spindle'having a threaded engagement with said last named jaw, and a ball and socket joint interposed between the spindle and the first named jaw;

and athreaded spindle interposed between and engaging said rail clamping elements.

11. In a device of the character described,

the combination of two pairs of rail clamp- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G.

ing elements each consisting of a jaw having an angular rail gripping face adapted to engageone of the lower edges of the ball of the rail, a jaw having an angular rail gripping face adapted to engage the upper edge of the ball of the rail at the other side thereof, one of the jaws being movable to and the rail, a jaw having an angular rail gripping face adapted to engage the upper edge of the ball of therail at the other side thereof, one of the jaws being movable to and from the other in a direction diagonal of the ball of the rail and a threaded spindle for clamping said jaws on the rail transversely thereof; and a threaded spindle for moving said elements toward and away from each other.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of two pairs of rail clamping elements each consisting of a jaw having an angular rail gripping face adapted to engage one of the lower edges of the ball of the rail, a jaw diagonally disposed with reference to the first named jaw and having an angular rail gripping face adapted to engage the upper edge of the ball of the rail at the other side thereof, and a threaded spindle having a ball and socket connection with one of said jaws for forcing said jaws together diagonally and transversely of the rail; and means for moving said elements toward and away from each other.

EUGENE W. VOGEL.

Witnesses:

L. A. FALKENBERG, R. KUEHN.

Commissioner of Patents, 

